NY State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, recently spoke out on the sexual harrassment allegations made against Gov. Andrew Cuomo by two former staffers. Stewart-Cousins, who represents Yonkers and parts of Westchester in the State Senate but also serves as the Majority Leader, made comments on CNN and on the Capitol Tonight show with Susan Arbetter for Spectrum News.
When asked by Arbetter when she would lose support for the Governor if the allegations continues, Stewart-Cousins said, “I think if there are any further people coming forward I think it would be time for him (Cuomo) to resign.”
“I am disappointed. Here we are in 2021, and we are having these conversations on the heels of me too movement. And what New Yorkers have been clear about, is that any form of sexual harassment, and anything that makes people feel uncomforahble in the workplace is unacceptable.”
Arbetter followed up, asking if Stewart-Cousins would want her daughter to work at the Governor’s office if she was the same age as one of the accusers, Charlotte Bennett, 25. “I am concerned. I was 25 at a point in my career in and office environment, and it was quite different, nothing was said. We have come a very long way and we can’t go back. The idea that a young woman would be subject to any kind of sexual harrassmant is out of bounds and unacceptable. “
“I applaud women who have been through this to come forward during a scary time. Sadly this discussion is still happening, but I am always happy when people come forward and I encourage them to do that,” said Stewart-Cousins, who added that she has not spoken to Gov. Cuomo since the allegations were made public and, as a result, has not been able to tell him her thoughts.
In a national interview on CNN March 3, Stewart-Cousins, said, “He’s saying that nothing inappropriate happened. If the investigation shows that something inappropriate did happen, I think he would have to resign,” adding, “An apology is a start but there has to be an end to this type of behavior.”
Arbetter correctly called Stewart-Cousins, “one of the two most powerful women in Albany, (Attorney General Leticia James the other). “It seems like Governor Andrew Cuomo’s political future hangs on two powerful women in Albany…The general feeling in Albany is when Stewart- Cousins calls time on the Governor, he has got to go.”
The question now being asked by any good reporter is are there any more legitimate accusers willing to come forward?
